Game



J. B. ALEY.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-10,1920.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

FIG. 6.

301m B. Any, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Application filed March 10, 1920. Serial No. 364,754.v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. ALEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Games, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in 'toyand novelty amusement devices, and has the following advantages. The

dolls forming a. portion of the device by usingthe assistance of the force of gravitation automatically reset themselves in theirnormal or upright positions, after they have been revolubly actuated, and consequently require no attention from the attendant operating the device. In consequence of the dolls making complete revolutions, no hinges are required on, the dolls, and it is well known that in frequent and constant use dolls having hinges cause much trouble, and frequent repairing of said points of attachment between the supports and the dolls.

An added feature in the present invention are the bells attached to the dolls, so that when they are struck by the usual base balls, the revolution of the dolls actuate the bells, thereby adding an attractive feature to the device from an amusement standpoint.

The game may also be readily knocked down or taken apart for packing and'shipping purposes, having special provisions made for this purpose as will be set out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification I have shown one complete example of the preferred form of my invention, and several modifications thereof, constructed according to the best model have so far devised for the practical I application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical section of my invention taken on line 11 of Fig. 2. I

Fig.- 2 is a front elevation of my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a locking means used.

Fig. 4 is a reverse view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear elevation of one of the dolls used.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the method of attaching the dolls.

or the man in the moon as in Fig. 9.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a doll in side elevation showing its relation to the main structure of my device.

Fig. 8 shows a modified shape of the front board of my invention.

V Fig. 9 is another modification of the type of front board, showing a humorous representation thereon.

The numerals l and 2 indicate a fiat board preferably which may be in one piece or as will be explained, in some cases of two boards hinged at 3, 4, so that said boards 1 and 2 can be collapsed upon each other for shipping purposes, in the case of large games used in amusement parks. The boards 1 and 2 when in an upright position are locked by any suitable means such as a draw-bolt 5, shown in Fig. 3, as is readily understood. Upon the boards 1 and 2 is painted referably a humorous representation of a N egro The aperture 6 passes completely through the board 2, and is adapted to accommodate a base or rubber ball which is hurled thereat from a distance. At the rear of the board 1, as seen in'Figs. 1 and 4. clearly, is suspended a bell 7, in the proper position behind the opening 6, to permit a ball passing through the latter to hit the bell and ring it. The

. aperture 6 is usually chosen with respect to the mouth or nose or eye of the representation on'the face of the board 2. At the rear of the boards 1 and 2 are the leg support pieces 8 and 9, which are joined by the other stiffening pieces 10, 11, 12. Attached to the rear of the device, are a plurality of cross-bars 13, 14, etc., which are preferably bolted to the boards 1 and 2 at points 15, 15, etc., so that they can be readily taken apart for shipping purposes in the case of large sized games. The said cross-bars are preferably rectangular in cross-section where they are attached to the stiffening parts 8 and 9 at 16, 16, and where they project at 17, 17 they are rounded for the sake of appearance. At 18 is a reduced diameter portion, forming a pintle or axle, whereon are placed the doll-like members 19, 20, etc. In the case of small toy games it is found preferable to make the ends 18 of wood, and integral with the cross-bars 13, or 14, but

game. Lag-screws can beused-if preferred.

to stove-bolts to take the place of bolts. 21.

' In the case of the small games such as the one shown in Fig.9 designed especially for childrens and household use, the dolls 19 and 20, are usually secured on the pintles 18 as shown in Fig. 1, by means of metal or wooden washers 23, and screws 24, the latter being screwed into the pintles 18. -Attention is called to the rounded surface at 25 Figs. 5 and 6, the purpose belng to reduce the frictional contact between the sides of the dolls and the ends of cross bars at these points; and it is further seen that the washers 23 have preferably a similar rounded surface on the face nearest the edges of the dolls at 26. In the case of the construction shown in Fig. 5, the large head of the stovebolts being of metal the friction at 4:0 is negligible. Fig. 6 illustrates clearly the construction preferably used and above described for use in connection with the smaller games, where the pintle 18 is made integral with the parts 17 of the cross-bars, the rounded surfaces at 25 and 26 being well shown therein.

The doll-like members 20 and 21, it is at once seen from an inspection of Fig. 5 are preferably made with one end 27 shorter from the point of revolution 28, than the other end 29 thereof, and for the following purpose. It is seen that when a base or rubber ball is hurled at the doll that spins on itsaxis 28 for a number of revolutions,

' the number depending largely on the force of the blow, and the amount of friction against the surfaces at 25 and 26 and on the axle or pintle 22. As the oscillation ceases, after such a series of revolutions the action of gravity will act on the longer, and consequentlyheavier end 29 of the doll 20 Fig. 5 will come to rest at the bottom and the lighter and shorter end 27 remain at the top, and both in a vertical position, ready to be aimed at with a ball. It is thus seen that with this type of gravity doll that the dolls never need to be set-up or reset in their normal or upright positions, they naturally by their own automatic action due to gravity, always seeking an upright position, and in position to be aimed at anew. It is further evident that instead of making 3 the ends 27 and 29 unequal in length, that they may be made of equal length if one of said ends is weighted as at 30, in Fig. 41, and the same result of automatically resetting the dolls in an upright position accomplished. The addition of a bell 31 Figs. 1 and 5 at the rear of the dolls makes the operation of the dolls more attractive as the bell 31 will ring when the doll ishit by a ball, and thereby signalize the hit made by the contestant. The board 1 and its complementary board 2 are supported by a pair of legs 32, 32 held rigidly together by a cross-piece 33, and the upper ends of said legs are beveled and placed in engagement with the rear face3 1-of the board 1, and the edge 35 of the cross-bar 13. A hook 38 is used to connect the staples or hook-eyes 36, and 37 in the board 1, and cross-piece 33 respectively. This simple form of support is readily dismantled and laid flat when the game is shipped, as also the board'2 is turned down to position 39 for the same purpose when desired. It is also noted that in the case of smallgames for toys or the like that the boards 1- and 2' are all in one piece, and the hinges 3 and l'are'not used.

It is further seen that many modifications in the shape of the front boards 1 and 2 can be readily made, such as those shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and also with respect to the representations thereon, which can be made humorous, grotesque or the like without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and all within the scope of the claims. It is also noted that the use of the device as depicted in the drawings will displace many of the live nigger targets in the open air amusement parks, circusesland' the like, and with the automatic dolls, very much time is saved when crowds are using the game, as it is not necessary to ever reset the dolls in their normal or upright positions. It is observed that only the front face ofthe dollsas seen in Fig. 2 need be decorated, the dolls always presenting the same face tothe audience when the former come to rest, in their normal positions; The type shown in Fig. 9

is designed particularly for'household use,

but the type shownin Fig. 2 is also adapted to be made in the smaller sizes, and as before mentioned the front boards 1 and 2 are'made in one piece preferably for these small size games.

- From which it is seen that I haveprovided a novel and useful type of game suit-- able for the home, stage,amusement parks or other places. The method of operating said game is at once apparent and well understood, prizes being offered for the different feats of skill, such as hitting the bell 7 of the central representation, or hitting one of the dolls in a given number of throws of a base or rubber ball. \Vith the small typev of game a rubber ball is ordinarily used whereas with the larger outdoor games, a base ball ofsolid "material is used. The representations of figures are usually painted on the board faces 1 and 2 by good commercial artists, so as to make the device attractive as possible from an artistic standpoint.

What I claim is: V

1. In a game, a doll adapted to be revolubly mounted on a support, having one end thereof heavier than its opposite end, for the purpose of automatically resetting the doll in a vertical position, and musical means on said doll adapted to be actuated when the said doll receives a blow tending to rotate the latter.

2. In a game, a cross bar having a rounded end, a pintle on said end, a doll having one end thereof heavier than its opposite end, revolubly mounted on said pintle in adjacent relation to the rounded end of the cross-bar, a washer provided With a rounded surface engaging against the edge of said doll, and means for holding said washer on the pintle to prevent dislodgment of the doll.

3. In a game, a cross-bar having a round ed end, a pintle on said end, a revoluble doll having one end thereof heavier than its opposite end, mounted on the pintle 1n adjacent edge relation to said rounded end of the cross-bar, a washer provided with a rounded surface engaging against the edge of said doll, means for holding the washer on said pintle, and musical means adapted to re sound when the doll receives a blow.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN B. ALEY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. HIRTLE, DAVID SToNnoIPHER. 

